Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duecalhulblu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duecalhulblu’, characterized by its compact to medium-sized, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with light and dark purple-colored petals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUECALHULBLU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duecalhulblu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with large, unique and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2013 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-001733-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-000764-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duecalhulblu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duecalhulblu’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact to medium-sized, semi-upright to outwardly spreading,         trailing and decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large flowers with light and dark purple-colored petals.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Wescaice’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,345. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘Wescaice’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are larger than plants of         ‘Wescaice’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have thicker lateral branches         than plants of ‘Wescaice’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of         ‘Wescaice’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Wescaice’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Wescaice’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duecalhulblu’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duecalhulblu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-001733-001,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-000764-002,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact to medium-sized,             semi-upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and             decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit with about six             to seven primary lateral branches developing per plant;             pinching enhances branching; dense and full appearance;             vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 29 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 90 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 50 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after             flowering, opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.1 mm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 1,000 to 1,500 flowers developing per plant during the             flowering season; flowers face upright to outwardly; flowers             deeply lobed.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four             to five weeks after planting; plants flower continuously             from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.6 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8.6 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 1.7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.9 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to             2D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening,             upper surface: Close to 81B; towards the throat, close to             79B; stripes, close to 4B. Petal, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 78D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 78D; towards the throat, close to 79B; venation,             faint and close to 82B; stripes, close to 4B; color becoming             closer to 82B with development. Petal, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 84C; venation, close to 84A. Throat:             Distally, close to 79B; proximally, close to 4B; venation,             close to 79B. Tube: Close to 4B; venation, close to 200D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal             width: About 2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.             Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close to             154D. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About             0.9 mm. Anther color: Close to 8A. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 14B. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 8.2 mm. Style length: About             7.2 mm. Style color: Close to 144C. Stigma shape:             Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close             to 144D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duecalhulblu’ as illustrated and described. 